Rope:
Year, model, mileage would be very helpful when asking such questions. Also, please enter that info in your window to the left, that way it will be included with every post.

Don

 

Sorry about that Don. Updated profile done.

So this is a 2002 SLT+ with a little over 218,000 miles on it. I really need to get back into improvising more and not being so quick to ask for help on these older vehicles.

After posting, I went and took a look at my 2001 Durango which is sitting in the yard waiting on a new timing chain package. After looking at that one, I realized that I could just cut off the original aluminum compression ring and replace the heater hose with standard 5/8's size. Did that with some new hose clamps and all appears to be good. Just trying to get through warm up and cool down cycles to get the system burped so I can indeed, hopefully, see that my coolant loss issue is fixed.

This motor has overheated twice that I know of. Once before I bought it and a second time while in my possession. For my over heat, I caught it really quick so I am hoping the head gasket and heads are still ok. Still cannot see any signs that they aren't at this point.

 

Be aware that the coolant pump itself has been known for failing. read/ search here for coolant booster pump, several posts recent and past...

 

Thanks for the tip.

While I had the coolant drained and the hoses off the pump, I pulled it out and checked it for leaks and operation. No leaks found and the pump ran when connected to 12V.

 

Good morning Rope! Glad that you have made some progress. Now, I will dine on my well earned share of Crow LOL as I just realized that MY vehicles specs are missing from my signature. I usually do include them in my message though.

:0) Don

 

Thanks for letting us know what the problem was . Nice to hear members solutions instead of being left hang. TAKE CARE EVERYONE!

03 durango 4x4 4.7l 545RFE

 

NP.

I was actually able to figure it out becauseof the '01 I have sitting in the yard. They had done the same thing with that one.

 

So fingers crossed that all my coolant disappearance is fixed.

I have run the D a couple of times to try and get all the excess air out. So yesterday I topped it off and put the pressure tester back on it at 21lbs. First trip out after about an hour showed about a 1lb drop, so I pumped it back to 21 and let it sit a couple of more hours. Good news is that there was no additional drop. I am guessing that the initial drop might have been just some expansion of hoses or something in the system for the initial pressure.

I have a 90 mile round trip drive this weekend so I will check it afterwards to see if there is any loss.

 

Good deal! I know you'll keep a close eye on the guage there and back.[emoji6]

03 durango 4x4 4.7l 545RFE

 

Ok, so took my trip last week and coolant was low again.

So this morning, after sitting all night, I put the pressure tester back on the system again. Pumped it to 21 lbs, noticed a drop (guessing that it was hoses and stuff expanding from pressure, back to 21 lbs and it has now been sitting for several hours.

Just went back outside and looked at it is still sitting on 21 lbs. I am going to leave it overnight to see what happens.

I am just completely baffled on this one. Once I get the overnight test out of the way, if it hasn't dropped, I am going to refill and put a good mark on the gauge in the overflow. The system has a new cap on it and the overflow hose does not appear to have any leaks, but I may pull it off and put a little pressure on it just to be sure.

Any thoughts?